Digital Craft

The model has long held an important position within the realm of architectural representation, being one of the primary instruments that architects have used to communicate their designs. Of the varying modes of representation – drawings, models, photography, film, text or even an architectural object itself – the drawing and the model are the two most familiar with architects and students, used to explore ideas and communicate design decisions. But whereas the drawing can require the viewer’s interpretation in order to make meaning beyond obvious comprehension, the model provides a rather simpler approach and thus a simpler existence.

At the most basic level, a model is a physical device, which translates an architect’s design into a scaled object that can aid communication and understanding. It is a miniature of a building, used for experimentation, validation and conveying design intentions. It is also a craft in its own right. When used for experimentation, the process of creating a scaled model can guide solutions for spatial inefficiencies, which could otherwise not be revealed in the two-dimensional phase of a design process. When used strictly as a tool for validation, the model can be limited by predetermined decisions regarding geometry. In this instance, a model is perhaps less efficient than a drawing, which is very flexible in what it can achieve as mode of representation

On the surface, it may appear that the use of 3D printing for architectural models is simply a development in modelmaking materials; powder, plastics and composites are perhaps only an alternative to wood, paper or card for producing the same device. The materiality of a 3D print is clearly unique, but has the technology in fact had a more profound effect on the architectural model? As with the established materials for modelmaking, 3D printing appears to have found its niche as a medium for design development models, particularly when examining its use as the primary medium of the object. As discussed in the previous chapter, study and process models used in the design process exist for the analysis and verification of ideas, and for communicating design intentions. By their very nature, these models are temporary in use, regardless of their material qualities or level of creative execution. They are not unduly valuable as an object, but are useful in achieving the outcome of the design process, and regardless of their quality of craft, can be considered as a form of output. The use of 3D printing to produce this type of model is therefore an instinctive occurrence, with its ability to produce a printout of a CAD file similar in manner to printing two-dimensional drawings for review.

The final part of this research explores various stylistic techniques that can be used in the digital modelling process in order to create more interesting
3D printed architectural models. The examples shown reflect particular types of models where modelling techniques can enhance the style or communicative abilities of the object. It is important to note that many of these techniques are not specific to determined purposes and their concept of style can effectively be applied to various model typologies.
For example, physical textures are used to exemplify the application
of that modelling technique, rather than the specific application of 3-dimensional materials, such as brick.